SHILLONG, May 8: After the price of cooking gas had shot up in different parts of the country, the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) has slammed the silence of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) coalition legislators on the latest increase in LPG costs.
Expressing dismay, AITC Pynursla Block Committee joint secretary, Dominic S Wankhar, said, “None of the legislators of the MDA coalition have spoken about these matters that affect the people. It seems the government is unaware of the plight which is why it doesn’t intend to reduce state tax on fuel.”
Lambasting the MDA for making “tall promises about development”, the AITC said, “The state is facing high inflation rate in FMCG (fast-moving consumer goods) goods and with rates of food items and other things continue to rise there is no reduction. How can people survive in such a turbulent economic situation today when even the value of rupees five hundred today seems equivalent to a hundred rupee note?”
“Are we heading the Sri Lankan model of governance? This is the question the MDA government should introspect,” it said.
Cooking gas prices were on Saturday hiked by Rs 50 per cylinder, the second increase in rates in just over six weeks following the firming of international energy rates.
Non-subsidised LPG now costs Rs 999.50 per 14.2-kg cylinder in the national capital, up from Rs 949.50 previously, according to a price notification of state-owned fuel retailers.
This is the second increase in LPG rates in just over six weeks. Prices were hiked by Rs 50 per cylinder on March 22.
Since April 2021, prices have risen by Rs 190 per cylinder.
Non-subsidised LPG costs Rs 999.50 per 14.2-kg cylinder in Mumbai while it is priced at Rs 1,015.50 a bottle in Chennai and Rs 1,026 in Kolkata.
Rates differ from state to state depending on the incidence of local taxes such as VAT.
Prices are higher in states with higher taxes.
